Craftsman 247.28902 manual Slope Operation

•Slowdownbeforeturning.Operatethe machinesmoothly.Avoid erraticoperationandexcessivespeed. Disengageblade(s),setparkingbrake,stopengineandwaituntil the blade(s)cometo a completestopbeforeremovinggrass catcher,emptyinggrass,uncloggingchute,removinganygrassor debris,or makinganyadjustments.

Neverleavea runningmachineunattended.Alwaysturnoff blade(s),setparkingbrake,stopengineandremovekeybefore dismounting.

Useextracare whenloadingorunloadingthe machineintoa trailerortruck. Thismachineshouldnot bedrivenupor down ramp(s),becausethe machinecouldtip over,causingserious personalinjury.The machinemustbe pushedmanuallyon ramp(s)to loador unloadproperly.

Mufflerandenginebecomehotandcan causea burn.Do not touch.

Checkoverheadclearancescarefullybeforedrivingunderlow hangingtree branches,wires,dooropeningsetc.,wherethe operatormaybestruckor pulledfromthe machine,whichcould resultinseriousinjury. Disengageallattachmentclutchesanddepressthe brakepedal completelybeforeattemptingto start engine. Yourmachineisdesignedto cutnormalresidentialgrassof a heightnomorethan 10".Do not attemptto mowthroughunusually tall,dry grass(e.g.,pasture)orpiles of dry leaves.Drygrassor leavesmaycontactthe engineexhaustand/or builduponthe mowerdeckpresentinga potentialfire hazard. Useonlyaccessoriesandattachmentsapprovedfor this machine by the machinemanufacturerRead,understandandfollowall. instructionsprovidedwiththe approvedaccessoryor attachment. Fora list of approvedaccessoriesandattachments,call 1-800- 659-5917.

Dataindicatesthatoperators,age60yearsandabove,are involvedin a largepercentageof ridingmower-relatedinjuries. Theseoperatorsshouldevaluatetheirabilityto operatethe riding mowersafelyenoughto protectthemselvesandothersfrom seriousinjury.

If situationsoccurwhicharenot coveredinthismanual,usecare andgoodjudgment.Contact1-800-659-5917for informationand assistance.

SLOPE OPERATION

Slopesarea majorfactorrelatedto lossof controlandtip-over accidentswhichcan resultinsevereinjuryor death.Allslopesrequire extracaution.Ifyoucannotbackupthe slopeor if youfeel uneasyon it, do not mowit.

Foryoursafety,use the SlopeGuideincludedas partof this manual to measureslopesbeforeoperatingthis machineona slopedor hilly area. Ifthe slopeis greaterthan15degreesas shownonthe Slope Guide,do notoperatethis machineonthatareaor seriousinjurycould result.

Do:

oMowupanddown slopes,not across.Exerciseextremecaution whenchangingdirectionon slopes.

•Watchfor holes,ruts,bumps,rocks,orother hiddenobjects.

Uneventerraincouldoverturnthe machine.Tallgrasscan hide obstacles.

Useslowspeed.Choosea lowenoughspeedsettingso that you will nothaveto stopor shiftwhileon the slope.Tiresmay lose tractionon slopeseventhoughthe brakesarefunctioning properly.Alwayskeepmachinein gearwhen goingdownslopes to takeadvantageof enginebrakingaction.

•Followthe manufacturer'srecommendationsfor wheelweights

or counterweightsto improvestability.Forrecommendations,call 1-800-659-5917.

•Useextracarewithgrasscatchersor otherattachments.These can changethe stabilityof the machine. Keepallmovementonthe slopesslowandgradual.Do not make suddenchangesinspeedor direction.Rapidengagementor brakingcouldcausethe frontof the machineto lift andrapidlyflip overbackwardswhichcouldcauseseriousinjury.

•Avoidstartingorstoppingona slope. Iftireslosetraction,disen- gagethe blade(s)andproceedslowlystraightdownthe slope.

Do Not:

•Donot turnon slopesunlessnecessary;then,turnslowlyand graduallydownhill,if possible.

•Donot mowneardrop-offs,ditchesor embankmentsThe. mower could suddenlyturnover if a wheelis overthe edgeof a cliff, ditch,or if an edgecavesin.

•Donot try to stabilizethe machineby puttingyourfooton the ground.

•Donot usea grasscatcheron steepslopes.

•Donot mowon wetgrass.Reducedtractioncouldcausesliding.

•Donot attemptto coastdownhill.Over-speedingmaycausethe operatorto lose controlof the machineresultingin seriousinjury or death.

•Donot towheavypull behindattachments(e.g. loadeddumpcart, lawn roller,etc.)on slopesgreaterthan5 degrees.Whengoing down hill,the extraweighttendsto pushthe tractorandmay causeyou to loosecontrol(e.g.tractormayspeedup, brakingand steeringabilityarereduced,attachmentmayjack-knifeandcause tractorto overturn).

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